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MEETING NOTES

East Boston Greenway Coordinating Council
Harborside Community Center
Monday, August 17, 1998

map of the Marginal to Prescott Segment of the Greeenway
Click to see full map of proposed Greenway

Attending: Valerie Burns, Carolyn Banulis, Brent Banulis, Connie Carbone, Louis Covino, Frank Durante, Ethan and Blossom Hoag, Nancy Kafka, Vinnie LaBella, Sal LaMattina, Karen Maddalena, Kathryn Lozano (YMCA), Stephanie Marrow (BPD), A1 Miller (MHD), Karl Pastore, Mark Warren, Lauri Webster, Mary Ellen Welch, Joanne Zambuto.

After introductions all around we began our discussion on:

1. Greenway/Marginal to Porter

According to A1 Miller of Mass Highway Department, the design is complete although there were a few minor last minute changes by the city (adding some gates, fencing and a hosebib). He expects to "go to print" tomorrow with the construction documents, so the specifications will be available soon. MHD will be making 25 copies and may extend the bid period, depending upon the interest (by contractors). Al expects bid opening within one month. Once the bid is closed it takes another month before a contract is ready (contractor submit his materials, contract is approved by MHD board of directors and Administration and Finance. Construction is expected to begin in early October. The remediation work will be done in 4-6 weeks and they hope to have the pavement down before Winter.

The construction will include remediation, demolition (including clearing out all the weeds and the trash), earthwork, paving, wall repair/construction, benches, bases for the trash receptacles, plumbing (drinking fountain and drainage), electrical (lighting and power) and resetting the tracks and base for the caboose.

Karen noted and other Council members agreed that the litter on the bridges over the greenway is awful and that it needs to be cleaned up.

Mark Warren wanted to make sure that the apple tree by the Porter Street bridge is going to remain (and be protected during construction). Al Miller will check the documents and get back to Lauri.

It is unlikely (but not impossible) that the second phase will have the same contractor as the first phase since the projects will have different scopes of work, with the first being predominantly engineering work and the second consisting of mostly landscaping with site improvements.

When asked if there are any add alternates that could be accepted if the bids came in low, Al replied that there were not. He added that the enhancements (budgets) are capped and the remediation is the uncertainty. In addition, there will be a second phase: the second ISTEA grant for the East Boston Greenway has passed another milestone and only one more signature is needed.

This is good news. Valerie distributed copies of the letter from MAPC to the Mayor, which says that the East Boston Greenway has been recommended for funding in FY 1999! It is the Parks Department's goal to make the transition between the construction of phase I and phase II "seamless." The second phase will follow in Spring and will include: the caboose, decorative fencing, signage, plantings and art. Valerie distributed the project budget for the Phase II ISTEA Award.

Brent asked if the project being bid was the project as designed by the community. Al Miller assured him that it was. Carolyn asked when we will know who will be managing Phase II. It is unknown at this time. The Secretary will make that decision sometime after the elections.

2. Greenway/Porter to Neptune

Valerie distributed a letter to Mike Lewis regarding the last meeting with the Central Artery on July 22. Council members who attended the meeting agreed it was not a positive meeting. Subjects discussed included the proposal to accommodate parking for 283 Park 'n Fly cars temporarily on the Scolly property or under the viaducts; decreasing the size of the pedestrian entrance to Memorial Stadium based on MassPort's need to keep accessible a small piece of land between the bra factory and the park; lack of resolution on outstanding design issues.

A majority of Council members are outraged that the Artery is considering accommodating Park 'n Fly even on an interim basis on the Scolly property, closer to neighborhood residences. They also oppose the temporary relocation of the pedestrian access to airport station. Council members feel that all of Park 'n Fly should move onto airport property. MassPort needs to prioritize the relocation of Park 'n Fly over the pressures by rental car agencies.

If temporary parking is needed, Brent suggested they approach Suffolk Downs. Sal pointed out that the project would have to pay money to relocate parking spaces, or to buy out the spaces altogether. The state owns Scolly and they should be able to use it.

Sal reminded the Council that under the original agreement (the MOU of '92), Park 'n Fly was not supposed to move until after the highway project was completed. The CA/T project is working hard to accelerate the process, but needs to provide temporary parking to Park'n Fly.

Blossom made a motion to let the project know that the Council does not approve of moving Park 'n Fly (283 cars) temporarily to Scolly until they come to the community with a plan and schedule for the permanent relocation of Park 'n Fly. The issue was debated, with Joanne Zambuto saying parking should be allowed on a temporary basis and Mark Warren saying that the Council should pick its battles and that it is likely it would loose this one. Carolyn maintained that the community does not have to be happy with relocating cars to Scolly, closer to residences, and noting also that a large chunk of Park 'n Fly's lot is empty for significant periods of time anyway. Lauri wondered if they needed the temporary parking for 3 months or 3 years, thinking a short time would be easier to take than years. Sal thinks all parties (Massport, the City and Park 'n Fly are very close to an agreement and that they will be ready to come to the community by the end of September. )After much debate the Council voted on the motion with 9 people supporting the motion and 4 opposed. Valerie will write a letter that reflects the Council's sentiments.

Valerie commented that the CA/T meeting schedule for September 23,1998 was shaping up be a hot meeting and that the outstanding design issues were going to get put off again.

On another subject, Sal gave an update on Massport's desire to decrease the size of the pedestrian entrance to Memorial Stadium and preserve access to the strip of land between the park and the bra factory. At the last CA/T project meeting, John Krajovic mentioned that Thrifty might be coming back.

The week after that meeting Sal scheduled and later met with Tom Butler, and although there is not yet a resolution, it appears that the Airport will reconsider keeping this small slice of land, thus restoring the park boundaries shown on drawings by CA/T designers for the last several years. It is likely that MassPort will announce final resolution to this problem in September. A motion was made to let Massport know that the land should not be incorporated in the park as designed. Valerie will send a letter to Peter Blute right away.

Sal noted that Thrifty could not come back since they left and that the City could fight such a proposal at the Board of Appeals. Another discussion ensued regarding whether this land could be used for the roadway to the proposed hotel.

3. Lila Wallace Readers Digest Fund

LWRDF Urban Parks Program has invited BNAF to submit an application for the 1998

Institutionalization Grants to "institutionalize" the work that has been done to date on East Boston and the Neponset Greenways . For the East Boston Greenway that means BNAF could continue to staff the Greenway Coordinating Council, develop and help implement a plan for permanent management and maintenance of the Greenway andcontinue to advocate for the physical development. BNAF can apply for up to $400,000 over 3 years for both the Neponset and East Boston Greenways.

Letters of Support from Council members and neighborhood groups are very important. BNAF will provide a one page summary for Council members to use should they so desire. Please send the letters of support to BNAF for inclusion in the grant proposal by September 9, addressed to: Holly Sidford, Program Director Lila Wallace Readers Digest Fund Two Park Avenue, 23rd floor New York, New York 10016.

4. The East Boston Greenway Festival

The East Boston Greenway Festival is shaping up. We will mail you the flyer, which should be available very shortly. Valerie handed out a brief description of the events planned:

Shell Fishing and Exploring at Wood Island Bay Marsh with Helga Buerre of the Massachusetts Audubon Society. Saturday, September 12, 1998, 10-11:30am.

Greenway Bike Ride: Belle Isle to Piers Parkwith Doug Mink of MassBike (co-sponsor) and Mark Warren Sunday, September 13,1998, 1pm.

Arts in the Park at Belles Isle Reservation. It is lots of fun and there are lots of activities for kids. Sponsored by the Friends of Belles Isle Marsh and the MDC. Karl thinks the Bugaloo Swamis will provide the musical entertainment. Sunday, September 13,1-4pm.

Walking Tour of the Greenway, starting at Piers Park. Monday, September 14, 6:30-7:30pm.

Sunset Canoe Trip at Belles Isle Reservation. Tuesday, September 15, 6-7:30pm.

Tour of Bennington Street Burial Groundswith the Friends of the Burial Grounds and the Boston Parks and Recreation Department. Wednesday, September 16, 6:30-8:30pm.

Star Party at Belle Isle Reservation with the Museum of Science. Thursday, September 17, 6-8pm.

Beach Party at Constitution Beach. MDC and BNAF are providing music, a movie and some refreshments. Friday, September 18, 6:30-9:00pm.

Harvest Festival at Piers Park with Zumix-Cultural Connections. There will be loads of events, activities and music. BNAF is looking for twice as many pumpkins as last year. Can anyone help? Sunday September 19, 1-7pm.

5. Other Business

YCC - Everyone should have received an invitation to the Youth Conservation Corps

Closing Ceremonies. It is Thursday, September 20th at 9:00 am. Please come!

YMCA - Kathryn Lozano is here from the YMCA to listen and get to know East Boston. She has been spending the last couple of months talking to groups and individuals because the Y would like to enhance services offered in East Boston. After asking about the range of services the Y offers, members offered the following suggestions: fitness program, particularly focusing on the elderly, youth clubs in sections of the community not currently served, teen programs in Jeffries Point (Social Service Center is underutilized in the evening), more programs for young girls like the one at Paris Street Gym for other neighborhoods, help for the Salesians Boys and Girls clubs. The Y is not vet in the position of taking on the Scolly building, the Welfare building or the Barnes School.

Chelsea Creek Urban Wild - The City is going to talk about plans to clean up the Urban Wild at an upcoming meeting on September 28, 1998, with a pre-meeting on August 31, 1998. Valerie handed out flyers provided by Chelsea Creek Action Group.

END. These notes are written to the best recollection of the authors. Please let us know if corrections are necessary within 60 days of the date of the meeting notes. Contact BNAF@aol.com

BOSTON NATURALAREAS FUND. INC.(BNAF)
59 Temple Place, Room 558
Boston, MA 02111-1307
(617)542-7696
(Fax)542-0383
e-mail: BNAF@aol.com